Poon Hill Trek in just 3 Days

Introduction

The Poon Hill 3-day trek is a compressed version of the famous Poonhill trek, offering breathtaking views of the Annapurna region. It's also known as the Annapurna Sunrise or Panorama Trek. The first day starts with the drive to Nayapul from Pokhara, followed by hiking to Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani, and Poonhill, respectively. After enjoying the views, you'll return to Nayapul and drive back to Pokhara or Kathmandu.

You'll witness stunning mountain ranges like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, and more. The highlight is reaching Poon Hill Viewpoint (3210m) for a spectacular sunrise panorama.

The trek is safe and suitable for all age groups, taking you through beautiful wilderness, rhododendron, and oak forests and allowing you to experience the warm hospitality of the local Magar people.

Attractions

• Annapurna panoramic view with Mt. Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Churen Himal, Nilgiri, Baraha Shikhar, Gangapurna, and more
• Immersive experience in the auditory Magar village
• Mesmerizing sunrise from Poon Hill viewpoint
• March through lush forests of rhododendron, pine, and oak
• Encounter native Magar people, culture, and lifestyle
• Comfortable stays in well-facilitated guest houses
• Pleasant trails through terrace farming villages and rhododendron forests
• Breathtaking views of 8,000 meters of mountains without extreme altitude
• Witness grand sunrise and world's highest peaks from Poon Hill (3210m)
• Visit charming villages like Birethanti, Hille, Tikhedhunga, Ulleri, and Ghorepani.

Route

Pokhara -> Nayapul -> Tikhedhunga -> Ghorepani -> Poon Hill -> Nayapul -> Pokhara

This 3-day trek begins with a drive from Pokhara to Nayapul. From there, you'll hike to Tikhedhunga and continue to Ghorepani. The journey leads you to the iconic Poon Hill, where you'll witness breathtaking views of the Himalayas during sunrise. After soaking in the beauty, you'll trek back to Nayapul and then return to Pokhara or Kathmandu by car. This adventure-packed route promises unforgettable experiences amidst the stunning landscapes of Nepal.

Additional Information

This trek is generally started from Pokhara; however, it is possible to start from Kathmandu as well. There are many options if you want to start the trek from Kathmandu, such as by road transportation or by flight.

Road transportation like buses and jeeps can be rented easily within a day, and you can also confirm tickets for buses, or we can do this for you.

For the flight option, you have to book a domestic flight ticket, or we can book it for you, but the flight has to be booked some days earlier.

You will be charged an extra cost for any transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara and accommodations in the hotels in Pokhara.

The mentioned price covers the cost of the pickup and drop-off services from your own booked hotels around the lakeside if the starting and ending points of your trip are in Pokhara.

If you are already in Pokhara, please mail us your hotel name closer to the trip date.

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunga

This is the first day of our trek. Our team members will meet you at your hotel in Pokhara or at the airport if you are flying from Kathmandu, and you will be taken to Nayapul by local bus, which takes around 2 hours. Then we will continue our journey by trekking to Tikhedhunga, which takes around 4 hours to reach. The trail passes through bamboo forest, a spectacular waterfall, peeping mountains, dense bushes, and wild but beautiful wilderness. We will spend the night at Tikhedhunga.

Day 2: Tikhedunga to Ghorepani

On this day, we wake up, have breakfast, and start our march towards Ghorepani. It will take about 6 to 7 hours to reach there. On the way, we pass through villages like Ulleri, Banthanti, and Nangi Thanthi. The uphill provides a pleasant walk through rhododendron and oak forest, viewing different mountain ranges like Annapurna South (7273m), Mt. Dhaulagiri, and Hiunchuli. Ghorepani was originally a horse-watering point that has become popular among tourists for its beautiful offerings and mule caravans during the Pokhara-Jomsom trip. Stay overnight at Ghorepani.

Day 3: Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara

Today, we will go up to Poonhill to enjoy the beautiful panorama of mountain ranges and the view of the sunrise. It is a picturesque spot where you can capture lots of unbelievable pictures with natural contrast and beauty. After spending moments in Poonhill, we descend to Nayapul from the same route, enjoying the natural scenario. After arriving in Nayapul, a drive to Pokhara follows. On the way too, you will observe beautiful rivers, green hills, forests, glittering mountains, and so on. After reaching Pokhara, our staff will drop you off at your hotel.

Useful Information

3 Days Trek: Best season

This trek is relatively easy and not too physically demanding. The best months to do this trek are from February to May and from September to December. During these months, the weather is good, and there are fewer clouds, allowing you to see the beautiful mountains and surrounding scenery clearly with plenty of sunshine. Additionally, there is less rainfall during these periods.

Accommodation during 3-day trek

During this trek, you will stay in tea houses, which are a combination of guesthouses, cafes, and social spaces. The rooms are basic, with twin beds and minimal furniture, and some may have blankets. Restrooms are usually shared and can have either squat or western-style toilets. Most tea houses have running water, and some offer hot water for showers at an additional cost.

Food during the trek

During the trek, you'll have breakfast and dinner at the lodges. Lunch will be served at trailside restaurants. At each stop, you can try the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat, which includes rice and lentils, along with other food options like vegetables, noodles, potatoes, and soup. Some places also offer Western dishes like pizza, pasta, and French fries. You can find soft drinks, snacks, and beer at most tea houses and trailside restaurants.

Trekking Team (Guide, Porter) for the trek

We have an experienced trekking guide who will be with you throughout the trek. You can rely on them for any problems, concerns, or questions you may have. Our guides are well-trained in trekking, high-altitude medicine, first aid, and emergency procedures. They are selected based on their professionalism. Please keep in mind that they are local citizens, and their English may be basic and limited to trek-related topics.

Regarding porters, they will carry your luggage during the trek. They are also local citizens, and typically, one porter carries around 20 to 25 kg of belongings. For your convenience, we usually provide one porter for every two trekkers.

Altitude travelled during the trek

Altitude is something that worries many trekkers in Nepal, and it's understandable. High altitude can be dangerous because of altitude sickness. However, in the Poon Hill region, the risk of altitude sickness is almost zero. This is because altitude sickness usually becomes a concern after crossing the 3200-meter mark. During this 3-day trek, you reach Poon Hill at 3200 meters and then descend to lower elevations on the same days.

To put it simply, the trek's highest point is Poon Hill at 3200 meters, and the other places along the route have even lower altitudes. For example:

With such low altitudes on the trek, there is no reason to worry about altitude-related difficulties. Trekking at these heights is not problematic at all.

Permits required for the trek

Before you go on this trek, make sure to get the necessary permits. Even for a 3-day trek, you'll need the same permits as for longer treks.

• The Annapurna Conservation Permit (ACAP) costs NRS. 3,000 per person.
• The TIMS Trekkers Permit costs NRS. 2,000 per person.

While trekking with Nepal Trek Adventure and Expedition, we will handle the permit and timing arrangements with the needed guides and numbers of porters for you or your group.